Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 147891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 592(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 592(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
“Mr. Harlow, you made it!” She lifts her hands, giving off a slow round of applause.
Caz moves a step ahead of me, raising his gun, and Danica drops her arms, sighing. “Where’s Warren?” he demands.
“Inside,” she informs him.
“Bring him out.”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that yet.”
“Why not?”
She juts her chin out, eyes landing on me. “I need Willow. Only her.”
“Yeah, fucking right,” Caz snarls, and he takes another step forward, his finger wrapping around the trigger. “You have ten seconds to bring him out or I’m putting a bullet in your fucking head. I’m done with your games, and from where I’m from, when you cross me once, that’s enough for me to end your life.”
Danica smirks. “Try.”
Agitated, Caz pulls the trigger. As he does, Danica withdraws the sword from her sheath. The sword has a slim silver blade with an angled pointed tip and long handle. To my complete and utter shock, she deters the bullet with the sword and sends it flying toward one of Caz’s soldiers instead. The man grunts from the impact and falls, but he’s not dead. The bullet is lodged in his chest plate. Several soldiers rush to help him to a stand.
Caz doesn’t waver, but I can sense his shock. Is that a Katana sword? I hear him asking himself.
Danica tucks the sword back in place without hesitation, raising her hands in the air. “Are we done here?” She takes a step down. “Look, you could have all your men start shooting at me, and I’d ward off every single bullet. And this time, I’d be sure not to aim for the chest. Let’s not make this messy. Bring Willow to me so I can take her to Warren.”
My heart catches speed, and I move closer to Caz. He tenses at my side and partially lowers his gun. “She only goes in if I go with her.”
“Caz, don’t be fucking stupid, brother,” Killian grouses behind him, but Caz ignores him, focused on Danica.
“All right. Deal. Makes sense you’d want to protect your mate. After all, I’m willing to do the same.” Her eyes flicker to mine, and something rocks through me, like a zap to every organ. The feeling is both shocking and intriguing. Still, I frown, eyeing her.
Caz lowers his gun, then shouts for the rest of his men to do the same. They lower their weapons, all but Killian and Rowan.
“Are you sure about this, Caz?” Killian asks, still pointing his gun at Danica.
“I am. Keep watch of the area,” he commands, then he’s grabbing my hand and leading us toward the building.
Chapter 81
WILLOW
“You’re from Kessel,” Caz says as soon as we’re inside the building.
“I have Kessel blood in me, yes,” Danica responds, standing several steps away from us. “What gave it away?”
“The sword.” Caz shifts on his feet, looking all around.
I look with him, smelling something similar to rotten eggs or sulfur. It’s dark all over, and soot clings to every wall and surface. There’s nothing inside but a couple of broken chairs and tables. Parts of the wall are covered in black residue, concealing the brick, most likely from being burnt. Everything appears to have been set on fire and left here to rot. Was this Decius’ doing? Did he try burning this place down when he realized it would be his downfall? I recall the story Hassha told about Decius burning down all the trees in The Trench. Perhaps those flames spread and singed everything.
I hold back a gasp when I spot a rat scurry across the room, twice the size of an Earth rat. Why does she have my brother in this place? And how is she able to breathe without a gas mask?
“There were rumors that the original tribe of Vanorians used the Katana to fight,” Caz goes on, his eyes fixed on Danica again. “That was centuries ago, and they aren’t made anymore. How do you own one?”
Danica ponders his question a moment, her bold brown eye surveilling him. “It was my mother’s,” she finally answers. “She belonged to one of the original Vanorian tribes, long before Alora was ever born. Believe it or not, her tribe was blessed by the hands of Hassha, and my mother passed her gifts to me before she died. It’s why I can breathe in this filth and not die, and how I vanished before your very eyes last night at your castle.”
Caz digests this information, holding Danica’s gaze. There are a million questions running through his head. He’s confused by this woman just as much as I am.
“Why do you need Willow?” he asks, shifting the subject.
Danica’s face changes, an uneasiness stealing her rugged features. “Come this way, I’ll show you.” She turns away, walking up a curved staircase missing several steps. It doesn’t look safe to walk on, but Danica takes the steps with ease. Caz goes after her first, keeping my hand in his as we follow her up. We pass three floors until she ventures down a hallway and pushes a rickety door wide open.